With smartphones becoming increasingly popular, the demand for mobile versions of favorite programs is at an all-time high. Many big developers like Google have released apps for mobile users. One of the more useful Google apps is Drive. While it may not be as fully functional as the browser version, Google has been releasing updates to improve the app's functionality.

The latest update to the Drive app for Android devices aims to make accessing your files and creating documents from your mobile device even easier, and Google delivers on that goal. Here is an overview of the changes introduced by Google.

An improved layout When you open the new version of Drive on your Android device you likely won't see much of a difference to the overall look. If you look at the top of the screen however you will notice that the top bar has been changed. You will now see (from left to right) :

1. Three vertical lines - Tapping these will bring up the side-bar with your different files including: My Drive, Starred, Recent, Offline, etc. If you use more than one account, you will see your account name at the top of the menu. Tapping on it will allow you to select the different Google accounts you have linked with your device. You can also get this menu up by placing your finger on the left side of the screen and swiping to the right.
2. The Drive icon - This part of the bar shows the file path. For example, if you have a folder on your Drive labeled 'Bills', and open it on your device you will see its name beside the Drive icon at the top. Tapping on the Drive icon will take you back to the home screen and if you have more than two folders open you will be able to select which folder to go back to.
3. A magnifying glass - Tapping this will allow you to search Drive for files.
4. Four squares - This is possibly the biggest change to Drive. Tapping these squares will change your files and folders into individual cards. Your folders will appear at the top of the screen and clicking on each will open each one and show the files in that folder as little cards. If you tap on a picture, you will be able to preview every file in that folder.
5. Three small vertical squares - Selecting this will open a drop-down menu with options including: Add new, Filter by, Settings and Help.

A new Information panel You will notice that each file and folder has an 'i' in a circle on the bottom right. Tap it and the file's information will pop up. This screen is the information screen and provides you with a preview of the file, who has access to it, and general information like size, as well as giving you the option to make it available offline. If you slide the tab from Off to On, you will be able to access the file without an Internet connection.

Download a copy If you want to download a copy of a picture, doc or other file you can now do so. Simply open the file and press the information button on the top of the screen. Press the three squares at the top-right of the window that opens and select Download a copy from the menu that drops down.

Your phone or tablet is now a scanner Google introduced a new feature to the mobile Drive app that enables you to scan documents using your device's camera. You can scan documents by pressing the three squares from any file, (note: This is where it will be uploaded, so pick where you want to upload the file first), select Add new followed by Scan. Your camera should turn on, so press the shutter button and Drive will scan the document and create a .pdf.

Combine this with the app's ability to print documents through the cloud via Google's Cloud Print and this app could be a valuable mobile scanner.

If you would like to learn more about Google Drive and how it can help your business, contact us for a chat.

Historically speaking, it has been a bit of a chore to move from one Operating System to another. You have to worry about file compatibility and then transferring all of your important information like contacts and email. When it comes to a mobile OS, it may seem a complicated process but it really isn't, especially if you are moving from Android to Windows Phone.

If you are a current Android user and either thinking of switching to a Windows Phone, or are getting one for the office, you are likely wondering how you are going to switch or get your important information from one system to the other. While you may imagine it is going to be a real chore, it's actually quite easy and straightforward. Here is a short guide on how to switch to the Windows Phone from Android.

Switch your email

Your email account is arguably the most important account you have. It is also the account you use to essentially make your phone yours. As a current Android user, you likely have linked a Gmail account to your device and probably want to continue using this account. The good news is that a Windows Phone still allows you to link your email account. Here's how:

1. Tap the Settings icon on your Windows Phone.
2. Select Email + accounts followed by Next.
3. Tap Add an account along with the account you want to add, (for most Android users this will be Google).
4. Enter your email address and password.
5. Tap Next, select Email only followed by Sign in.

The phone should sync with your Google account and your email should start showing in the email tile on the main screen. If you use other accounts, say a Microsoft account, you can add these in the same way.

Migrate your contacts

Contacts are an important part of any phone, and you probably want to take them with you, or migrate them over to the new system. You have a couple of options to get your contacts onto your new Windows Phone. The method you use should reflect where you store your contacts.

1. Contacts linked with your Google account - If you have set up your Android device to sync contacts with your Google account, (done by going to Settings, Accounts, Google and tapping on Contacts), you can simply follow the steps in the email section above and select Email, contacts, and calendar. Your contacts should show up within a couple of minutes.
2. Contacts stored on your SIM card - If you have saved your contacts to a SIM card, simply insert it into the new phone, as long as the SIM is the same size. Go to the People app on your phone and select Settings, followed by Import SIM contacts. If your new device has a different sized SIM card, your best bet is to sync your contacts with your Google account.
3. Contacts stored on your computer - The easiest way to migrate your contacts from your computer to your phone is through Outlook. Sign into Outlook using a Microsoft account, drag your contacts from Outlook into the account and then sign into your phone using the same account. Your contacts will automatically transfer over. If you have an older version of Outlook, try the Hotmail connector, (instructions on how to transfer files are below the download link).

Import important documents

If you have files that you would like to access on your phone the easiest option is to download these onto your computer first. If they are spreadsheets, presentations or word processing files on Google Drive, you should download them as Word, Excel or PowerPoint files.

When the files are on your computer, plug your phone into it using a USB cable. The computer should recognize this and show you a window with options of what you to do with your phone. Select Explore Files and a window will open with the phone's file structure. Double-click on Documents. Then, open the folder where you downloaded the documents to, in another window. Simply drag the files in the folder on your computer to Documents and they will be available on your phone.

Get your apps

As we stated last month, you can download the Switch to Windows Phone app from Google Play. Run the app, and link it with a Microsoft account. On your Windows Phone, download the companion app from the Store, open and run it. Your should be able to download compatible apps from there.

Move your SIM card/phone number

Moving to a new phone system can sometimes be confusing, especially in relation to SIM cards. For the vast majority of phones, you should be able to simply move your SIM card from one to the other and it should work. Many new phones use a new, smaller SIM card and if you use the older version, you will have to go into your mobile provider and ask them to switch your card. It shouldn't be very costly and many providers may even offer to do it for free.

The one thing to be careful with is if your Android device is on a contract. Some mobile carriers have been known to lock the SIM to the device, meaning it won't work if you switch phones. You will have to go into the mobile carrier and pay them to switch.

In general, moving from Android to Windows Phone is a painless affair that shouldn't take a long time, especially if you already sync your contacts, calendar and email with Gmail. If you are making the move and have further questions, please give us a call, we are happy to help.

When browsing the Internet, what type of site do you spend most of your time on? For most people, that would be social media. It's hard not to find someone using social media these days. One of the less popular, yet still important, services is Google+. While the user base is considerably lower than say Facebook, it is growing. In an effort to increase numbers further, Google has recently introduced a number of interesting changes to Google+.

Here is an overview of the new Google+ features recently introduced.

A new layout One of the first things you will notice about the updated Google+ is the layout has been drastically changed. On the main (Home) screen you will notice that posts have been changed to individual cards, similar to the Google Now cards, and are arranged in either one, two or three columns. These posts now take up more space horizontally which makes it far easier to view more content at the same time.

The menu bar that took up the left-hand side of the previous layout has been moved and is now collapsible. If you hover over Home on the upper-left of the screen the menu will pop out from the left-side. Circles and related feeds have also been added at the top of the window and clicking on a related circle name will bring up content only from your friends in that circle.

Adding new posts has also been turned into a card layout which is found at the top-left of the content stream. The different options e.g., Text, Photos, Link, Video and Hangout, are now big buttons that you can push to create a related post.

Improved Hangouts Possibly the most intriguing new feature introduced is actually an update to the existing Hangouts. The numerous Google chat functions have been merged into a single chat and video messaging app available for Google+, iPhone, iPad, Android, Gmail and Chrome.

This means that you can host group chats for up to 10 participants which users can access through various systems. What this means for businesses is that you now have an easier way to communicate across multiple systems without having to worry about compatibility.

Better pictures and albums A key component of any social media platform is visual content like pictures and videos. Google has introduced some interesting photo based features that could help make your content even more attractive. One feature is Auto Enhance, which will touch-up photos by looking at factors such as blur, contrast, saturation, etc. From what we have seen, the touch-ups are effective in making your pictures look better.

There is also a new feature called Auto Awesome, which looks at the types of photos you upload and can do various impressive things. For example, if you upload a series of similar pictures, say a sequence of images taken one after the other in a short amount of time, Auto Awesome will create an animated GIF which you can share on your wall. This function can also create panorama or HDR images.

Auto Highlight is another recently introduced feature which uses an algorithm to analyze pictures and skip over duplicate, blurry or underexposed pictures while uploading them, supposedly leaving you with only the best pictures.

Hashtags The hashtag (#) has become popular on many social media platforms and is an easy way to find similar content. Google+ has improved the hashtag system and will now automatically add relevant tags to your posts. You will see these as small blue tabs on the right of the card, and hovering over these will show the relevant hashtag. If you click on it, the card will flip over and show you other posts that have the same tag. This could be a great way to find similar content and could help bring more exposure to your profile.

The new Google+ layout is definitely a big change compared to previous versions and could prove to be useful for your company's profile and online presence. If you would like to learn more about using Google+ please contact us.

The 2013 version of Office 365 was recently released and many businesses have upgraded to the new system which offers many useful benefits. One of the new systems introduced in the recent update is SkyDrive Pro. This has garnered interest from various business owners, although many are a little unsure as to what exactly this app is.

SkyDrive is Microsoft's online cloud storage service. Users can create, edit, share and store all manner of documents, including those from the various Office programs. SkyDrive Pro is the business oriented version of SkyDrive.

According to Microsoft, "SkyDrive Pro is your professional library - the place to keep your work documents and other files." Using either your company's SharePoint server or SharePoint Online, your files are synced and stored in the cloud. This enables you to easily share them with colleagues, access them from mobile devices, and work on files offline.

Your files are stored in what Microsoft calls a Library. Think of this as a virtual hard drive. You can add files and folders in the same way you can with a normal hard drive, only they are online instead. You can access this by logging into Office 365 using your browser and clicking on SkyDrive (in some sites SkyDrive Pro is referred to as SkyDrive and clicking on this will take you to SkyDrive Pro).

How to set up desktop syncing with SkyDrive Pro One feature of SkyDrive Pro is that it allows you to sync files from your desktop to the cloud, for easier access. If you have a version of Office 365 installed that includes Office 2013, you should already have access to SharePoint Pro. In fact, it should already be installed on your computer.

Before you try to set up desktop syncing, it is a good idea to check with your system administrator to ensure that SkyDrive Pro syncing has been enabled and downloaded. Then, you can set up syncing by:

1. Clicking on Start and searching for SkyDrive Pro. It should be found in the Office 365 folder.
2. Launching the desktop app. You should see a window pop-up asking which Library you would like to sync. Don't enter anything unless your IT partner has provided you with a specific IP address.
3. Opening Office 365's Web portal on your browser and clicking on SkyDrive.
4. Clicking Sync in the top-right of the Office 365 window in your browser.
5. Selecting which library you would like to sync with your desktop and clicking Sync Now.

The PC based application you opened in step two above should automatically start syncing. It may ask you to log into Office 365, and after you do so, you should be able to access your online Library from your desktop.

By default, the Library will be placed in your Favorites folder which can be accessed by opening any folder and looking to the left, under Favorites. Saving files into the SkyDrive Pro folder should upload and sync them to your account.

If you would like to learn more about using SkyDrive Pro or any Office 365 program please contact us today.

One of Google's most successful services is Google Maps. Despite its popularity, it hasn't really changed since its release just under eight years ago. Until now that is! Google recently announced, at the company's annual conference, that Maps will be getting a large makeover that could impact businesses. Whether this is a benefit to your business may depend on whether or not you have a Google+ profile.

Here is an overview of the upcoming change to Google Maps and what it could mean for your business.

What's changed? The new version of Maps aims to bring a more personal map to users. It is currently an invite only update, but Google has noted that all users will be updated sometime between August and November this year.

The first thing you will notice when you see the new layout is that the maps themselves have been visually updated. Major roadways are now highlighted, while smaller roads are muted. This generally makes the map look less cluttered and easier to read. In truth, it looks a lot closer to the mobile app. Beyond that, Google Earth has been integrated into this new version of Maps.

While the new maps are easier to read, the biggest change is to the overall layout. In the existing Maps, when you search for a business or location a bar on the left of the screen displays search results and highlights businesses on the map with pins. The new version does away with the results bar and instead provides a drop-down card with businesses and locations shown as red dots on the map.

How the new Maps will work Google has made the new Maps more dynamic. In the current version, when you search or simply look at a map everybody sees the same results and a static map is shown to all users. In the new version, the map will be different for each user. Search results and identified businesses will be different based on your preferences, reviews, friends and search history.

Beyond that, the map itself is highly flexible. If you click on a business or landmark, it will change to show you similar businesses in the area, with closely related businesses bolded and popping out at you. Clicking on a bolded business will bring up a card on the left of the window with more information, including contact details, reviews, Street View, 360 Panoramas, (if available), and photos. Clicking on the card will open the business's Google+ page.

What does this mean for my business? The most important factor to note about the new Google Maps is that Google has made your Google+ page an incredibly important part of your online presence. When a user searches for a business on Google Maps, they will be able to filter results based on top reviews and their Circles. What this means for you is that if you have had some less than positive reviews, or don't have a Google+ presence, your business will show up lower on search results, or may not even register on some personalized maps.

Essentially, Google wants to promote quality businesses that have an active presence on Google+. If you haven't been focusing on your Google+ profile, it is time to start doing so. You should ensure that your information is correct and up-to-date, and that you are posting content on a regular basis. You will also need to build up your contacts and encourage customers to review your business on Google+.

While the new version of Maps won't be out for a few months yet, it is wise to get ready for it today. If you would like to learn more about the changes and how you can prepare for these, please get in touch with us.

The internet has made it easier for businesses across all industries to distribute products to a wide audience. Retailers taking their products online need to manage packing and shipping. Service companies can add revenue streams by stocking and selling complementary products. Even plant nurseries can safely ship their fragile stock to the other side of the country.

Maximize profits with ERP

While the internet makes it easy to connect to customers everywhere, there are business challenges unique to distribution. Fulfillment, stock outs, overstocks and lost shipments can reduce profits and take time away from the primary business.

With an ERP system, you can not only manage your primary business but also simplify and control distribution. Supply chain management through an integrated ERP system will:

1. Keep track of inventory and pending orders.
2. Manage invoicing automatically.
3. Streamline purchasing and receiving processes.
4. Identify customer purchasing trends.
5. Reduce inventory costs with better forecasting.
6. Help you negotiate better terms with vendors.
7. Track customer purchase history.
8. Import the orders placed on your website.
9. Allow anyone in the company to answer customer questions…on the first call.

Simplify distribution processes

The ability to build stronger relationships with customers through product sales that complement your primary business is a huge opportunity made possible by the internet. To ensure a good experience for each of those customers, you need to set up the systems that support good distribution practices.

Let’s talk about how you can add new revenue streams with ERP. Build your business with better customer relationships.

The password is the main way we identify ourselves online. We need these to access nearly every account and service we use. Hackers know this and often target this area. One way to minimize the chance of your accounts being hacked is by using different passwords for every account. However, the issue is that remembering them all isn't always easy. A password management system can help, but what type of system is the best?

Below is a brief overview of the four types of password management system you can use.

1. Cloud or Internet-based These systems are usually cloud based and accessed through an app or browser plugin. Apps ordinarily store your passwords, or generate one to use, and will automatically apply this when you visit a site that requires a password. These systems are great for breaking the one password habit, However, because they store all of your passwords in one place, they could become a target for hackers.

2. Cloud or Internet-based with two-factor authentication The next step up from the cloud-based password management system is one that supports two-factor authentication. Your passwords are still stored in the cloud, but you will need to provide another piece of information before you can access sites.

The interesting thing is that many of the cloud based password systems actually offer this in their premium offerings. So, not only do you get better password protection, but it's with the same system meaning you likely won't have to switch.

The cloud based systems are a good idea if you use more than one system on a regular basis and if you work from outside of the office.

3. Computer-based Computer-based password management systems are similar to the cloud versions, only the passwords are stored on your computer, and accessed using a master password. Because many hackers usually don't go after individual hard drives - they have to get through your network and then find the program and try to break the password - the chances of your passwords being exposed are minimized.

The only problem with systems like these is that you normally have to log in for the service to work. If you forget to log out and someone walks by, they will be able to access everything. However, for the manager who wants a secure system, this is a better option than the cloud based versions.

4. USB-based There are a number of USB devices that have a smart card in them that can store passwords. When you plug in the USB to your computer, the software on the USB can input the stored passwords when needed. These devices are typically more expensive, with some costing as much as USD$100, but they offer the highest amount of security as your passwords are kept with you.

The main downside to these devices is that they aren't the biggest and are usually about the size of a standard USB stick. This means that they are easier to lose, making getting your passwords back even tougher.

If you are looking for a better way to keep track of your passwords, please contact us today to see how we can help.

To many netizens, the Internet is one massive popularity race. Companies and people alike take great strides to carefully build a brand and reputation that they feel comfortable with. Unfortunately, there comes a time for any business when they have to deal with a complaint. There are many warning stories of companies that have handled negative feedback and complaints poorly and seen their reputation tarnished. If you want to avoid a dent in your corporate reputation, it would be wise to manage your online reputation.

Here are five reputation management practices you can employ to better manage your online brand.

1. Don't remove negative content If you see a negative comment or post online it may be your first impulse to delete it. This isn't necessarily advisable, as the main rule about the Internet is that nothing ever goes away. If you delete negative comments on a regular basis, customers could notice and this may lead to them losing trust in your company and ultimately, to lost sales.

What you should be doing is replying instead and encouraging any users who complain online or make criticizing posts to contact you directly, or through a more private medium like email. That being said, if you see malicious posts or content that is posted just to incite a negative reaction (trolling), there is nothing wrong in deleting. Just make sure to acknowledge this by posting a warning that states something along the lines of: "Please note, malicious content will be deleted."

2. Address complaints promptly You should have someone monitoring your online platforms for complaints or negative feedback, so that you can respond promptly. This will also show customers that you actually use your platforms and are willing to engage. If you do not take steps to address negative material, you could be sending the message that you don't care enough about customers, which could drive them away.

3. Provide people with a place to complain Being proactive is important when it comes to reputation management. Instead of waiting for complaints to be posted on various review sites, blogs or even social media, which are all out of your control, why not provide a place that you can control, for all types of feedback.

Having an easy to see form, forum or other similar area on your website, where customers can interact with you, could go a long way in helping limit where complaints pop up. If you are in control then you're more likely to see complaints sooner and better able to answer them quickly too.

4. Ensure colleagues and staff are all on the same page Two things that turn almost customers off of a brand are a company that isn't organized and being told different things by different people within the same company. If you have more than one staff member managing your online reputation you need to ensure everyone is on the same page. If a client asks a question they should get one answer and if there is a complaint there should be one response or person handling it.

It is a good idea to establish how to deal with complaints, who will deal with them and when they will be dealt with, and communicate this with all staff, not just those handling your online presence. A unified procedure could go a long way in minimizing the harm negative feedback can cause.

5. Monitor online activity We don't mean monitor the activity of your employees, we mean take a look at the different communication channels used by your customers and the public at large. If your business relies on reviews, simply monitoring your own profiles and website isn't enough. Many customers complain on review sites like Yelp, Ripoff Report, or their own blogs. Taking time to search for, and browse these sites could help you gauge the general perception of your company. If you see an increasing number of negative reviews for example, you know it is time to look at what needs to be improved.

Having a well managed online reputation won't guarantee new customers will come flooding in the door, but it can help decrease customers from going out the door, taking valuable sales with them. If you would like to learn more about reputation management please contact us today.

Productivity is without a doubt one of the more popular technology buzzwords nowadays. Business owners, managers and employees all seem to be striving to increase their productivity but may not know the best way to go about doing so. One way could be leveraging technology, more specifically, apps, to help improve efficiency.

Here are four productivity apps that could help make you more efficient.

1. Doodle

A common hindrance to productivity are meetings. Everyone has to take time out of their day to attend, and it can be even harder to schedule a time to actually meet, especially when your colleagues are so busy. Doodle is an app that helps users find a time and date to meet.

It works by the meeting leader setting a number of dates and times for a potential meeting. Doodle then creates a calendar with these times and dates, allowing users to click on. The app aggregates the feedback and then suggests a time and date that works for all invitees.

The Doodle app also integrates with Outlook, Google Calendar, Yahoo and iCal, which means you can schedule meetings and send invites directly from the calendar. The basic app is free, but you can also sign up for the Premium version which gives you more functionality, such as being able to send reminders and mobile support. Click here to learn more.

2. Any.do

As a business owner or manager, you are likely busy and have a never ending to-do list which may get out of hand from time-to-time. Any.do is a beautifully designed and simple to use task manager for your mobile device and Web browser. When you enter a task on your mobile device it will seamlessly sync with other versions, meaning lists will be the same wherever you view them.

An interesting feature that sets this app apart from many similar apps is that you can share lists and tasks with people to ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows what needs to be done today, tomorrow or later. It's free and available for most browsers, Apple and Android devices. Visit the Any.do website to learn more and download.

3. Due

Sometimes being productive means you actually have to be proactive. You may need a little nudge or reminder to get an email written, or file your tax return if you can't ever seem to find the motivation, best time to start, or even to remember.

Due is an app for the iPhone whereby you set reminders for yourself. A flashing a message on your screen acts as a reminder and continues to alert until you have completed the task and marked it as such in the app. It could be annoying, but just the right prompt you need to get important tasks started. You can download the app from iTunes for USD$4.99

4. HootSuite

There's a good chance that you, or someone you work closely with, spends a seemingly inordinate amount of time each day on social media. Maybe it's maintaining your company's profile or finding interesting content and physically posting this. If you have more than one social media account this could prove unproductive.

HootSuite is a social media dashboard that brings all of your social media platforms into one app. You can schedule posts for all of your networks at once, and easily view each service from one screen. This cuts down the amount of time you spend on social media and allows you to focus on running your business. The app is free for up to five social media accounts and one user, and USD$8.99 a month for the Pro version. Check out the HootSuite website, to learn more.

There are countless apps available that can help improve your productivity, or at the very least make you work in a more efficient manner. What are your favorites? Let us know.

When it comes to technology, big companies like Google like to host lavish events where they launch new products and services. Google traditionally does this at their three day developers' conference, I/O. Last year, 2012 saw the announcement of the new Nexus tablet line along with updates to many popular Google apps. This year was a bit tamer, but there were some announcements that businesses who use Google may want to know about.

Here's an overview of the four most interesting and potentially useful products for businesses that were introduced at I/O:

Google+ is set to explode (in a good way!) During the I/O Keynote, Google unveiled a new version of Google+, with a whopping 41 new features. This includes a revamped layout and a new pictures function that makes sharing and editing content even easier. The menu bar, (vertical bar on the left side of the window), has also been changed and looks great.

What's interesting is Google launched the updated Google+ almost as soon as the event finished. If you haven't logged in since May 15, do so and you should be given a tour of all the different changes.

It's time for Hangouts It's long been rumored that Google has been working on a way to merge all chat apps into a single platform. At the Keynote on May 15, Google announced an update to Hangouts, their video messaging platform on Google+.

Hangouts is now the main chat app and is integrated across Gmail, Google+, Android, iOS and your desktop. It replaces all previous chat apps with one centralized app that has video and group chat for up to 10 people, emoticons, and syncs messages across all platforms. This is great for businesses, especially if you have colleagues on the road using different devices. They can join in the conversation without any compatibility issues.

You should be able to upgrade to Hangouts by clicking on your picture in Gmail. For mobile devices simply update the Google Chat app you have installed and it should automatically upgrade to Hangouts.

Desktop search gets conversational Conversational search has become a popular tool on mobile devices, and it's now integrated with the desktop version of Google Search. If you have a microphone on your computer, you could use your voice to search on Google, instead of spelling out words, by pressing the Microphone symbol in the search bar.

At the I/O Keynote Google previewed an upcoming upgrade to voice search: Conversational search. This means you will be able to ask Google Search questions using a natural form of conversation. For example, if you are going to a conference in San Diego, you can simply ask Google: "What will the weather be like in San Diego next week?" Google will then provide the weather forecast. Beyond that, the voice search will always be on, so you can initiate a search by simply saying, "OK Google", and then asking your question.

This change from a keyword oriented to vocally induced search could change the way we search for businesses. Business owners will have to think about what questions people will ask when looking for certain types of companies, and develop keywords accordingly. While keyword search might be on the way out, the reality is that this is still important, even if natural sounding spoken searches are set to increase.

Google Maps gets a facelift Possibly the biggest announcement, for businesses at least, is that Google Maps has been re-engineered. The current version is static, so every user sees the same map and businesses when they search. The new Google Maps has been visually updated and is being billed as a personal experience. The map learns about you over time, and will highlight places based on what you are looking for, your previous search history and recommendations. From what we can see, the new Maps will be out sometime in August, but you can sign up to use it here.

This development could influence the way you use not only Google's services but also what services you use. Because it looks like results and recommendations shown on the maps will be heavily based off of reviews which are connected to your Google+ profile, you will probably have to pay more attention to Google+. We will cover more about this change in next week's Google article, so stay tuned.

If you would like to learn more about the changes Google has recently announced please contact us today.